"She was basically following what she thought was policy. The policy was changed and she wasn't told about it, so she was in a box."

The public spat has highlighted the underlying tension on foreign policy decisions within Mr Trump's senior ranks.

Ms Haley plays a significant role in determining the Trump administration's foreign policy, particularly since the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was sacked last month.

Tensions between Russia and the US have risen since Mr Trump publicly rebuked the state for assisting Syrian President Bashar Assad and ordered American forces to carry out missile strikes in Syria with the UK and France.